Monkey Burger even has its own food truck.
  • Monkey Burger even has its own food truck. Does that image of a monkey eating a hamburger freak anyone else out? Maybe it’s just me.

Did it start when Adam Richman came to Tucson and got schooled by Lindy’s on Fourth? Right about that time burger joints started popping up everywhere. Culver’s, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, Monkey Burger, not in that order.

Gourmet, fast-food, grass-fed, slider, food truck, Eat-a-Burger (coolest people ever), Zinburger, veggie burger. A sandwich by definition; an icon by extension. And Tucson can’t get enough of it.

I bring this up because the new Five Guys Burger and Fries is now slinging burgers south of the corner of Ina and Thornydale, just across the bridge from Tucson’s first Culver’s, which is totally packed with customers every time I drive past. If you do drive past it, however, never fear: Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers is just down the road. There’s a Wendy’s down there, too. Pick your poison.

Elsewhere: Diablo Burger, a Flagstaff joint that wants in on the redevelopment of downtown, is setting up shop in the 300 block of E. Congress St. By all accounts, Diablo Burger serves up a serious version of the American hamburger made with top-notch ingredients. They also have a burger named after Big Daddy Kane. If that means nothing to you I cannot help you. This can.

Also: Smashburgers. Soon. Original estimates said the place was to open in December, but in a rare reversal of normal restaurant-opening tradition, it looks like the moving date has actually been moved up to November.

“In a marketplace that is already crowded with burger restaurants, we think Smashburger stands out because it offers so much more than just a great burger,” says operator, Eric Wolf. “Although our burgers are fantastic, we also offer grilled and crispy chicken sandwiches, black bean burgers, and scrumptious salads”.

Lots of burgers to be had, but I still think the best ones in town are at Boondocks Lounge. That is all.

This article appears in Oct 4-10, 2012.

11 replies on “A Rambling Discussion of Tucson’s Hamburger Scene”

  1. The burgers at the Trident Grill are seriously wonderful. Management has changed and the improvement is very noticeable. The quality of the ingredients is excellent and the result is heaven. The LaSalle burger is a standout!

  2. I think the burger thing started long before Richman’s visit. And I believe ZinBurger had some play in it. People scoffed at paying $10. For a burger and now that price is somewhat common.
    Remember the hoopla – which I still don’t understand – when In-n-Out arrived?

    I also heard today from a reliable source that the burger at North Fattoria Italiana could be, and I quote, “maybe the best burger I’ve ever had!”

    Too bad you’re leaving. We could’ve done a search together.

  3. Ate Five Guys once — the fact that we ordered 3 burgers for 3 people and got and were charged for 4 was just the start of it. Not been back and won’t ever go back.

    Local local local local is our mantra.

  4. I don’t eat local because all local places barely pass food inspections. The chains always pass. No cockroach feces for me, you go ahead.

  5. Never had a problem at Five Guys; they’re the best chain in town, hands-down. Culver’s rocks, Monkey Burgers are invariably dry and overpriced and I haven’t won the lottery yet to afford strapping on the yuppie feedbag at Zinburger. Thanks for the heads-up on Diablo; let’s hope they can avoid the downtown curse and stay open through the trolley follies and/or that enough people get off the trolley to buy their food once the construction workers move somewhere else to impede traffic.

  6. Joel what an utterly ridiculous comment. You’re missing out, and no guarantee that a chain is cleaner. Some recent inspection reports – E stands for excellent, by the way:
    BOONDOCKS LOUNGE RESTAURANT WITH SIT DOWN BAR 3306 N 1ST AVE 4/5/2012 E
    LINDY’S DINER FAST FOOD – NO TABLE SERVICE 431 N 4TH AVE 9/25/2012 E
    POCO & MOM’S FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT 1060 S KOLB RD 4/6/2012 E
    (Poco & Mom’s makes a great green chile burger, not to mention the rest of the menu)
    MONKEY BURGER 2 FAST FOOD – NO TABLE SERVICE 47 N 6TH AVE 4/23/2012 G

  8. Cody’s has easily the best burger on Ft Lowell…. About the same cost as Five Guys.. steak fries included…

    I do love a great burger…. The best is JG Melon’s In NYC..

  10. I dislike burgers, and ground beef in general. I will NEVER be on the burger madness band wagon.

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